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enNew York Yankees Mt. Rushmore (Franchise Four)http://athlonsports.com/mlb/new-york-yankees-mt-rushmore-franchise-four
<div class="field field-name-field-template field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Two Left Sidebar Images</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-teaser field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">&lt;p&gt;
The team that started the entire Mt. Rushmore discussion. From Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to Joe DiMaggio to Mickey Mantle to Reggie Jackson to Derek Jeter. Perhaps we should allow an organization with 27 World Series titles eight faces on its Mt. Rushmore — or at least six.&lt;/p&gt;
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Major League Baseball is promoting an effort to identify the best four players in each team&rsquo;s history with their &quot;Franchise Four.&quot; We selected our choices for Mt. Rushmores a few years ago. Here are updated versions for all 30 teams. Who are the four baseball players that have risen above all others for each organization? The question sounds simple, right? Not so fast. Let the arguments begin.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong><span style="font-size:20px;">New York Yankees Mt. Rushmore</span></strong></p><p>This is the team that started the entire Mt. Rushmore discussion. Now that I&rsquo;ve waded through the likes of Brandon Webb, Aaron Cook, Jeff Conine and Randy Jones as faces on teams&rsquo; Mt. Rushmores, it&rsquo;s time to attempt to cull the illustrious history of the New York Yankees down to four men. Four. From Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to Joe DiMaggio to Mickey Mantle to Reggie Jackson to Derek Jeter. Perhaps we should allow an organization with 27 World Series titles eight faces on its Mt. Rushmore &mdash; or at least six. But we&rsquo;re sticking to the rule of only four faces on Mt. Rushmore, even with the Yankees. And for a team that boasts 17 retired numbers (with Jeter&rsquo;s No. 2 to follow), there are numerous candidates. But we&rsquo;ll have to identify the four guys who have risen above all others. I&rsquo;m sure the arguments will be aplenty. Here goes:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3 class="athlon-large-title" style="font-family:tungsten-semibold;font-size:42px;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0em;line-height:1em;margin:0;padding:0;">Babe Ruth</h3><p>The Sultan of Swat was larger than life. He transformed his career from one of the game&rsquo;s best pitchers to, perhaps, the game&rsquo;s greatest hitter of all-time, not just his era. The Babe was a household name for generations nationwide. Ruth ushered in the Live Ball Era making the home run something to behold. As a pitcher, Ruth won an ERA title and led the AL in shutouts with nine in 1916. That season he became one of five pitchers to toss more than 320 innings without giving up a long ball. He was 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA in three World Series starts. But for, oh about 714 reasons, Babe gave up pitching for right field. He then proceeded to win 12 home run titles, a batting title and six RBI crowns on his way to establishing the standard for home runs hit during a season and career. From 1918-29 Ruth hit more than 10 percent of the home runs in the American League. He outhomered half (or more) of the teams in the league during eight of those 12 seasons, outswatting all seven rivals in both 1920 and 1927.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3 class="athlon-large-title" style="font-family:tungsten-semibold;font-size:42px;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0em;line-height:1em;margin:0;padding:0;">Lou Gehrig</h3><p>Ruth&rsquo;s partner in offensive assaults was the Iron Horse. Gehrig spent most of his career batting cleanup behind Ruth and set the all-time mark with 23 grand slams (since surpassed by Alex Rodriguez). But much like Ruth, Gehrig was much bigger than stats, or the game itself. After Wally Pipp&rsquo;s famous injury in June of 1925, Gehrig quickly became the Iron Horse, establishing a mark once thought to be unbreakable of 2,130 consecutive games. Without a doubt, Gehrig&rsquo;s proclamation upon his retirement precipitated by ALS &mdash; now known as Lou Gehrig&rsquo;s Disease &mdash; that he considered himself &ldquo;the luckiest man on the face of the earth&rdquo; rings loudly still in the hearts of baseball fans. As it turns out, the two MVPs, the Triple Crown, the 2,721 hits, 493 home runs and 1,995 RBIs were just icing on the cake.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3 class="athlon-large-title" style="font-family:tungsten-semibold;font-size:42px;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0em;line-height:1em;margin:0;padding:0;">Mickey Mantle</h3><p>Few players can ever replace a legend. But in 1952, a 20-year-old from Oklahoma was handed the keys to center field in Yankee Stadium, patrolled by Joe DiMaggio just the year before. Mantle never disappointed. On his way to 536 home runs, three MVPs and three runner-up finishes, the Commerce Comet was third in MVP voting in &rsquo;52, finishing behind two pitchers. Mantle hit 18 home runs in World Series play covering 65 games and 12 Series. From the 1950s until his death in 1995, Mantle was the most beloved Yankee.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3 class="athlon-large-title" style="font-family:tungsten-semibold;font-size:42px;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0em;line-height:1em;margin:0;padding:0;">Mariano Rivera</h3><p>Okay. Here&rsquo;s where it gets a little tricky. Well, maybe more than a little. Why not DiMaggio, Jeter, or even Yogi? As beloved as those three icons are, none dominated his position like Rivera. The premier closer of all-time conquered enemy hitters for 19 seasons. Pitching in an offensive era, Rivera&rsquo;s WHIP is an even 1.000 and his ERA is 2.21. He owns the all-time record with 652 saves and converted saves at an 89 percent rate. In the postseason, Rivera was even better. In 141 innings, Rivera has 42 saves, a 0.70 ERA and 0.759 WHIP.</p><h4 class="athlon-medium-title" style="font-size: 26px; line-height: 1em; letter-spacing: 0em; font-family: helveticaneue-medium, helvetica; font-weight: normal;">&nbsp;</h4><h4 class="athlon-medium-title" style="font-family:helveticaneue-medium,helvetica;font-size:26px;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0em;line-height:1em;margin:0;"><span style="font-size:16px;">Close Calls</span></h4><p>The fact that he played in New York, had a 56-game hitting steak and was married to Marilyn Monroe for almost a year &mdash; not to mention a little shout-out from Simon and Garfunkel &mdash; has put <strong>Joe DiMaggio</strong> on a higher pedestal than he deserves. And he deserves a pretty high pedestal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The only player to get 3,000 hits in pinstripes is <strong>Derek Jeter</strong>, the most celebrated shortstop in team history. The Captain was the heart and soul of the most recent dynasty of the late 1990s. DiMaggio and jeter would certainly be on any other team&#39;s mountain, and it&#39;s painful to omit them here.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Few fans talk about <strong>Yogi Berra</strong> anymore, probably because he&rsquo;s so talked about.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>George Steinbrenner</strong> bought a struggling franchise in 1973 and turned it into the Evil Empire &mdash; and made no apologies for his efforts or success.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="307"><tbody><tr height="17"><td height="17" style="height:23px;width:227px;">American League</td><td style="width:183px;">National League</td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/who-should-be-orioles-mt-rushmore">Baltimore Orioles</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/arizona-diamondbacks-mt-rushmore">Arizona Diamondbacks</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" 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height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/tampa-bays-mt-rushmore">Tampa Bay Rays</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/giants-mt-rushmore">San Francisco Giants</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/texas-rangers-mt-rushmore-0">Texas Rangers</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/st-louis-cardinals-mt-rushmore">St. Louis Cardinals</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/toronto-blue-jays-mt-rushmore">Toronto Blue Jays</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/washington-nationals-franchise-mt-rushmore">Washington Nationals</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Follow Charlie Miller on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/AthlonCharlie">@AthlonCharlie</a> or email him Charlie.Miller@AthlonSports.com</em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-68 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Miscellaneous:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/mt-rushmore">Mt. Rushmore</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-64 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">MLB Teams:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-teams/new-york-yankees">New York Yankees</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-65 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">MLB Players:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/derek-jeter">Derek Jeter</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/babe-ruth">Babe Ruth</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/joe-dimaggio">Joe DiMaggio</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/mariano-rivera">Mariano Rivera</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/lou-gehrig">Lou Gehrig</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/iron-horse">Iron Horse</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/sultan-swat">Sultan of Swat</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/bambino">Bambino</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/mickey-mantle">Mickey Mantle</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/yogi-berra">Yogi Berra</a></div></div></div><div class="field-collection-container clearfix"><div class="field field-name-field-must-read-links field-type-field-collection field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Must Read Links:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"><div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-must-read-links clearfix" class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-must-read-links">
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<div class="field field-name-field-exclude-unless-partner field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Exclude Unless Partner:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div> </div>
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</div></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-exclude-from-feeds field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Exclude From Games:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Include In Games</div></div></div>Tue, 14 Jul 2015 22:00:00 +0000Charlie Miller104602 at http://athlonsports.comRangers' Josh Hamilton Joins '4 HR Club'http://athlonsports.com/mlb/rangers-josh-hamilton-joins-4-hr-club
<div class="field field-name-field-teaser field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">&lt;p&gt;
The rare feat of hitting four home runs in one game has been accomplished just 14 times since 1900.&lt;/p&gt;
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>
<img alt="" src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/20300-1/Josh+Hamilton.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 392px; margin: 4px; float: right;" />On Tuesday night, Josh Hamilton hit four home runs off Baltimore pitching.</p>
<p>
How rare is that feat?</p>
<p>
It’s been accomplished only 14 times since 1900; 16 if you go back prior to the turn of the century when rules were different. That’s four fewer than the number of perfect games during that time.</p>
<p>
The list of the 14 players to accomplish it spans from Pat Seerey, who had a nondescript seven-year career and finished with 86 career homers, to Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Lou Gehrig, two of the greatest to ever put on a uniform.</p>
<p>
Gil Hodges is on the list, Duke Snider is not.<br />
Lou Gehrig did it, Babe did not.<br />
Seattle’s Mike Cameron made the list; Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr. didn’t.<br />
The Cardinals’ Mark Whiten, yes; The Cardinals’ Mark McGwire, no.<br />
Willie Mays, uh-huh; Hank Aaron, nope.</p>
<p>
Before Tuesday night, it had been nine years since a four-homer game. While that seems like a long span, it’s just the fifth-longest between quadfectas. There were 15 years between Willie Mays’ four shots in 1961 and fellow Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt’s clouts in 1976. Another 10 years passed before Bob Horner put four in the seats for the Braves in 1986.</p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>15 Miscellany Facts About Four-homer Games</strong><br />
1. Only once has a team lost when a player hit four home runs. That was Horner in 1986. The Braves forgot to keep the Expos from scoring and lost 11-8.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">2. Shawn Green holds the record for most total bases. In addition to the 16 courtesy of the homers, he added a single and double for 19 total bases.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">3. You must hit in the middle of the order to do this, evidently. Only Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 hitters have accomplished it. Spots 1-8 have hit three in a game, but table-setters and the bottom third have never gone deep four times.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">4. Only twice has a team failed to score in double figures. The aforementioned Braves in’86 and Chuck Klein’s Phillies in 1936 defeated Pittsburgh 9-6.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">5. Stereotypical offensive positions do this. Only outfielders and corner infielders have done it. Every position except pitcher has pulled off a trifecta.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">6. The shortest time between four clouts is 21 days. Mike Cameron hit four on May 2, 2002 and Shawn Green followed that on May 23.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">7. Three franchises have had two players pull it off. But only one franchise, the Philadelphia Phillies, called the same city home. Klein and Schmidt were the two Phillies to do it. Gil Hodges did it as a Brooklyn Dodger, Green as an L.A. Dodger. Joe Adcock was with the Milwaukee Braves, Horner was with Atlanta.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">8. No one saw Horner’s four clouts on live TV, although Ted Turner’s Superstation TBS broadcast every game. But during the Goodwill Games — a brainchild of Turner’s — in 1986, TBS delayed Braves’ telecasts.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">9. Adrian Beltre has the distinction of belting home runs in two games in which a teammate has hit four. He hit in front of Green (and Beltre laid down a sac bunt in the first inning to get the Dodgers’ offense rolling), and also hit a home run hitting behind Hamilton.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">10. Fans rarely have gone home completely happy. While most fans are thrilled to see the rare event, only twice have the home fans witnessed their team accomplish it AND win the game. Gil Hodges thrilled the fans in Brooklyn and Carlos Delgado made the Jays’ fans happy with a come-from-behind win.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">11. Eleven of the 14 times it has been accomplished by a visiting player.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">12. Two stadiums have been the site of two feats. Shibe Park was the site of two of the first three occurrences. Gehrig did it there against Philadelphia in 1932, and Jim Seerey of the White Sox broke the Athletics’ spirit with four in 1948. It’s happened twice at Baltimore, Chicago and Milwaukee, but in different stadiums in each city.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">13. Connie Mack, the long time owner/manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, is the only manager to watch his pitchers allow an opponent to hit four home runs in a game twice.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">14. No pitcher has ever given up four home runs to the same hitter in a game. Only three times on this list has one pitcher allowed three of the four.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:16px;">15. Were there any close calls for a fifth? Only three times have hitters come to the plate with a chance for a fifth home run, twice by the same player. The first, Lou Gehrig hit a rocket to deep center field for an out in his sixth at-bat after hitting four home runs. The only other was Mike Cameron. He actually made it to the plate twice. The first ended in him being plunked by Mike Porzio (imagine that). It may or may not have been intentional —it was on a 1-1 count — as Porzio gave him one pitch to hit. Cameron came up again in the ninth and hit a liner that backed up right fielder Magglio Ordonez for an out.</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:20px;"><strong>The complete list (since 1900)</strong></span></p>
<p>
<strong>Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees</strong><br />
June 3, 1932<br />
New York 20, at Philadelphia 13<br />
The Athletics’ George Earnshaw is one of only two starting pitchers to give up three of the four home runs. Yankees third baseman Tony Lazzeri also deserves some accolades for hitting for the cycles that day. Not to be too overshadowed, Babe Ruth also went deep, but only once.</p>
<p>
<strong>Chuck Klein, Philadelphia Phillies</strong><br />
July 10, 1936<br />
Philadelphia 9, at Pittsburgh 6<br />
The Pirates (with three Hall of Famers in the lineup) tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the ninth, which gave Klein an extra at-bat in the 10th.</p>
<p>
<strong>Pat Seerey, Chicago White Sox</strong><br />
July 18, 1948<br />
Chicago 12, at Philadelphia 11<br />
Like Klein, Seerey also needed extra innings to hit his fourth. Seerey’s solo shot in the 11th provided the winning margin.</p>
<p>
<strong>Gil Hodges, Brooklyn Dodgers</strong><br />
Aug. 31, 1950<br />
Brooklyn 19, Boston Braves 3<br />
Hodges’ first blast came off Hall of Famer Warren Spahn. The Dodgers’ first baseman had nine RBIs. Pitcher Carl Erskine had five hits and Hall of Famer Duke Snider also went deep.</p>
<p>
<strong>Joe Adcock, Milwaukee Braves</strong><br />
July 31, 1954<br />
Milwaukee 15, at Brooklyn 7<br />
Lew Burdette was the winning pitcher with 6.1 innings of relief. It was a banner home run day for the Braves, as Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews hit two out and Andy Pafko hit one. Hank Aaron did not go deep, but had a double and a single. By the way, Gil Hodges hit one out for the home team.</p>
<p>
<strong>Rocky Colavito, Cleveland Indians</strong><br />
June 10, 1959<br />
Cleveland 11, at Baltimore 8<br />
Colavito followed Tito Francona and hit in front of Minnie Minoso, who also homered. Indians pesky second baseman Billy Martin also went deep. Colavito is the only player to hit four home runs in a game and have a win as a pitcher. (Colavito was the winning pitcher in relief of for the Yankees against the Tigers in 1968.)</p>
<p>
<strong>Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants</strong><br />
April 30, 1961<br />
San Francisco 14, at Milwaukee 4<br />
There were seven home runs hit by Hall of Famers that day. In addition to Mays, Hank Aaron hit two and Orlando Cepeda hit one. Giants Felipe Alou hit one and Jose Pagan hit two of his 52 career homers. The Giants’ ninth inning ended with Mays on deck as Jim Davenport grounded out to second.</p>
<p>
<strong>Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies</strong><br />
April 17, 1986<br />
Philadelphia 18, at Chicago Cubs 16<br />
In no doubt the wildest affair on the list, the Phillies were once down 12-1. Hall of Fame lefthander Steve Carlton lasted just 1.2 innings and allowed seven earned runs in the worst start of his career. The Phillies took a 15-13 lead into the bottom of the ninth before the Cubs sent it into extras. Schmidt hit number four in the 10th to break the tie. The game ended with the tying run at the plate. Schmidt is the only player on this list to hit home runs off brothers in the process. Rick Reuschel allowed the first two before his brother, Paul, gave up Schmidt’s fourth.</p>
<p>
<strong>Bob Horner, Atlanta Braves</strong><br />
July 6, 1986<br />
Montreal 11, at Atlanta 8<br />
The Expos’ starter Andy McGaffigan gave up three blasts before closer Jeff Reardon, who recorded a save, yielded the fourth.</p>
<p>
<strong>Mark Whiten, St. Louis Cardinals</strong><br />
Sept. 7, 1993<br />
St. Louis 15, at Cincinnati 2<br />
Whiten heads the list with 12 RBIs and is the only player to include a grand slam among his four round-trippers. First baseman Gerald Perry scored in front of Whiten on all four homers.</p>
<p>
<strong>Mike Cameron, Seattle Mariners</strong><br />
May 2, 2002<br />
Seattle 15, at Chicago White Sox 4<br />
After Jon Rauch (yes, that Jon Rauch) gave up Cameron's first as the starting pitcher, reliever Jim Parque gave up his second, also in the first inning. Parque proceeded to give up Nos. 2, 3 and 4 as well, becoming the only reliever to give up three of the four. Hitting in front of Cameron was Bret Boone, who hit two homers of his own that day. That had something to do with the fact that all four of Cameron’s clouts were solo shots. Cameron had two chances for a fifth. He was hit by a pitch in his next plate appearance, then lined out to deep right.</p>
<p>
<strong>Shawn Green, Los Angeles Dodgers</strong><br />
May 23, 2002<br />
Los Angeles 16 at Milwaukee 3<br />
In perhaps the greatest statistical day ever, Green had a double and single to go with his four dingers giving him 19 total bases. Adrian Beltre, Green and Dave Hansen went back-to-back-to-back in the ninth.</p>
<p>
<strong>Carlos Delgado, Toronto Blue Jays</strong><br />
Sept. 25, 2003<br />
Toronto 10, Tampa Bay 8<br />
Delgado is the only player to hit four homers with just four plate appearances in the game. His fourth tied the game in the eighth before the Jays added two more for the comeback win. His final two clouts had a Republican slant coming off Joe Kennedy and Lance Carter.</p>
<p>
<strong>Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers</strong><br />
May 8, 2012<br />
Texas 10, at Baltimore 3<br />
The former AL MVP hit four two-run shots surrounding a double, giving him eight RBIs. Hamilton ended the night with a .406 average, 14 home runs and 36 RBIs, leading the American League in all three categories.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-65 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">MLB Players:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/josh-hamilton">Josh Hamilton</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/willie-mays">Willie Mays</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/mike-schmidt">Mike Schmidt</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/chuck-klein">Chuck Klein</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/carlos-delgado">Carlos Delgado</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/lou-gehrig">Lou Gehrig</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/gil-hodges">Gil Hodges</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/joe-adcock">Joe Adcock</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/rocky-colavito">Rocky Colavito</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/bob-horner">Bob Horner</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/pat-seerey">Pat Seerey</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/mark-whiten">Mark Whiten</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/mike-cameron">Mike Cameron</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/shawn-green">Shawn Green</a></div></div></div>Wed, 09 May 2012 20:17:15 +0000Charlie Miller10055 at http://athlonsports.comNew York Yankees, Boston Red Sox Still Avoiding the Cellarhttp://athlonsports.com/mlb/new-york-yankees-boston-red-sox-still-avoiding-cellar-0
<div class="field field-name-field-teaser field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">&lt;p&gt;
Both teams having sub-par seasons at the same time is rare indeed.&lt;/p&gt;
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>
Regardless what the standings look like now, with the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox teetering near the bottom of the AL East, they are not likely to end the season there. The Baltimore Orioles are bad enough that they won’t let it happen this season, but just in case you’re wondering, the last time the Yankees and Red Sox finished last and next-to-last in their division/league was in 1966. The only other time was way back in 1925.<br />
<br />
Now in 1966, the Red Sox were a year away from winning the pennant in 1967, and the Yankees were just two years removed from winning five straight from 1960-64. Boston had stars like Carl Yastrzemski, George Scott, Jim Lonborg and a young Tony Conigliaro. The Yankees had Elston Howard behind the plate, Bobby Richardson at second and an outfield of Roy White, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Howard, Mantle and Maris were all former MVPs. Mel Stottlemyre and Al Downing led the pitching staff that included an aging Whitey Ford.<br />
<br />
But with all that star power, somehow the Red Sox managed to finish ninth, 26 games back of the Orioles (who swept the Dodgers in the World Series) and the Yankees a half game behind the Sox. I wonder how Mickey, Maris and Whitey felt about finishing last.<br />
<br />
Back in 1925, the Red Sox were a collection of no-name players, so it’s understandable that they would finish last, 49.5 games out of first. The BoSox had the worst offense, pitching and defense — last in batting average, last in runs, last in ERA, last in fielding percentage and made the most errors. It takes a microscope to find anything positive about that team.<br />
<br />
But there was no excuse in New York. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Earle Combs led the Yankees’ lineup. You know, guys most fans have heard of. You would think that would be enough firepower to support a pitching staff of Herb Pennock, Urban Shocker, Waite Hoyt and Sad Sam Jones. And the Yankees were 21 games better than the Red Sox, but still finished seventh in the eight-team league. Must have been why Sam was so sad.</p>
<p>
<em><strong>- Charlie Miller (@AthlonCharlie)</strong></em></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-64 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">MLB Teams:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-teams/new-york-yankees">New York Yankees</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-teams/boston-red-sox">Boston Red Sox</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-65 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">MLB Players:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/carl-yastrzemski">Carl Yastrzemski</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/babe-ruth">Babe Ruth</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/lou-gehrig">Lou Gehrig</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/jim-longborg">Jim Longborg</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/urban-shocker">Urban Shocker</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/sad-sam-jones">Sad Sam Jones</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-63 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">MLB Divisions:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-divisions/al-east">AL East</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-62 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">MLB League:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-league/american-league">American League</a></div></div></div>Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:24:24 +0000Charlie Miller9609 at http://athlonsports.comNew York Yankees Mt. Rushmorehttp://athlonsports.com/mlb/new-york-yankees-mt-rushmore
<div class="field field-name-field-template field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Two Left Sidebar Images</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-teaser field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">&lt;p&gt;
The team that started the entire Mt. Rushmore discussion. From Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to Joe DiMaggio to Mickey Mantle to Reggie Jackson to Derek Jeter. Perhaps we should allow an organization with 27 World Series titles eight faces on its Mt. Rushmore — or at least six.&lt;/p&gt;
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p><strong><span style="color:#b22222;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">MLB Mt. Rushmores</span></span></strong></p><p><span style="font-size:14px;"><em>by Charlie Miller</em></span></p><p>Major League Baseball is promoting an effort to identify the best four players in each team&rsquo;s history. We selected our choices for Mt. Rushmores a few years ago. Here are updated versions for all 30 teams.&nbsp;Who are the four baseball players that have risen above all others for each organization? The question sounds simple, right? Not so fast. Let the arguments begin.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong><span style="font-size:20px;">New York Yankees Mt. Rushmore</span></strong></p><p>This is the team that started the entire Mt. Rushmore discussion. Now that I&rsquo;ve waded through the likes of Brandon Webb, Aaron Cook, Jeff Conine and Randy Jones as faces on teams&rsquo; Mt. Rushmores, it&rsquo;s time to attempt to cull the illustrious history of the New York Yankees down to four men. Four. From Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to Joe DiMaggio to Mickey Mantle to Reggie Jackson to Derek Jeter. Perhaps we should allow an organization with 27 World Series titles eight faces on its Mt. Rushmore &mdash; or at least six. But we&rsquo;re sticking to the rule of only four faces on Mt. Rushmore, even with the Yankees. And for a team that boasts 17 retired numbers (with Jeter&rsquo;s No. 2 to follow), there are numerous candidates. But we&rsquo;ll have to identify the four guys who have risen above all others. I&rsquo;m sure the arguments will be aplenty. Here goes:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Babe Ruth</strong></span><br />The Sultan of Swat was larger than life. He transformed his career from one of the game&rsquo;s best pitchers to, perhaps, the game&rsquo;s greatest hitter of all-time, not just his era. The Babe was a household name for generations nationwide. Ruth ushered in the Live Ball Era making the home run something to behold. As a pitcher, Ruth won an ERA title and led the AL in shutouts with nine in 1916. That season he became one of five pitchers to toss more than 320 innings without giving up a long ball. He was 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA in three World Series starts. But for, oh about 714 reasons, Babe gave up pitching for right field. He then proceeded to win 12 home run titles, a batting title and six RBI crowns on his way to establishing the standard for home runs hit during a season and career. From 1918-29 Ruth hit more than 10 percent of the home runs in the American League. He outhomered half (or more) of the teams in the league during eight of those 12 seasons, outswatting all seven rivals in both 1920 and 1927.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Lou Gehrig</strong></span><br />Ruth&rsquo;s partner in offensive assaults was the Iron Horse. Gehrig spent most of his career batting cleanup behind Ruth and set the all-time mark with 23 grand slams (since surpassed by Alex Rodriguez). But much like Ruth, Gehrig was much bigger than stats, or the game itself. After Wally Pipp&rsquo;s famous injury in June of 1925, Gehrig quickly became the Iron Horse, establishing a mark once thought to be unbreakable of 2,130 consecutive games. Without a doubt, Gehrig&rsquo;s proclamation upon his retirement precipitated by ALS &mdash; now known as Lou Gehrig&rsquo;s Disease &mdash; that he considered himself &ldquo;the luckiest man on the face of the earth&rdquo; rings loudly still in the hearts of baseball fans. As it turns out, the two MVPs, the Triple Crown, the 2,721 hits, 493 home runs and 1,995 RBIs were just icing on the cake.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Mickey Mantle</strong></span><br />Few players can ever replace a legend. But in 1952, a 20-year-old from Oklahoma was handed the keys to center field in Yankee Stadium, patrolled by Joe DiMaggio just the year before. Mantle never disappointed. On his way to 536 home runs, three MVPs and three runner-up finishes, the Commerce Comet was third in MVP voting in &rsquo;52, finishing behind two pitchers. Mantle hit 18 home runs in World Series play covering 65 games and 12 Series. From the 1950s until his death in 1995, Mantle was the most beloved Yankee.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class="athlon-medium-title" style="font-family:helveticaneue-medium,helvetica;font-size:26px;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0em;line-height:1em;margin:0;"><span style="font-size:16px;">Mariano Rivera</span></h4><p>Okay. Here&rsquo;s where it gets a little tricky. Well, maybe more than a little. Why not DiMaggio, Jeter, or even Yogi? As beloved as those three icons are, none dominated his position like Rivera. The premier closer of all-time conquered enemy hitters for 19 seasons. Pitching in an offensive era, Rivera&rsquo;s WHIP is an even 1.000 and his ERA is 2.21. He owns the all-time record with 652 saves and converted saves at an 89 percent rate. In the postseason, Rivera was even better. In 141 innings, Rivera has 42 saves, a 0.70 ERA and 0.759 WHIP.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class="athlon-medium-title" style="font-family:helveticaneue-medium,helvetica;font-size:26px;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0em;line-height:1em;margin:0;"><span style="font-size:16px;">Close Calls</span></h4><p>The fact that he played in New York, had a 56-game hitting steak and was married to Marilyn Monroe for almost a year &mdash; not to mention a little shout-out from Simon and Garfunkel &mdash; has put <strong>Joe DiMaggio</strong> on a higher pedestal than he deserves. And he deserves a pretty high pedestal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The only player to get 3,000 hits in pinstripes is <strong>Derek Jeter</strong>, the most celebrated shortstop in team history. The Captain was the heart and soul of the most recent dynasty of the late 1990s. DiMaggio and jeter would certainly be on any other team&#39;s mountain, and it&#39;s painful to omit them here.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Few fans talk about <strong>Yogi Berra</strong> anymore, probably because he&rsquo;s so talked about.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>George Steinbrenner</strong> bought a struggling franchise in 1973 and turned it into the Evil Empire &mdash; and made no apologies for his efforts or success.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="307"><tbody><tr height="17"><td height="17" style="height:23px;width:227px;">American League</td><td style="width:183px;">National League</td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/who-should-be-orioles-mt-rushmore">Baltimore Orioles</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/arizona-diamondbacks-mt-rushmore">Arizona Diamondbacks</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/boston-red-sox-mt-rushmore">Boston Red Sox</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/mlb-mt-rushmores">Atlanta Braves</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/chicago-white-sox-mt-rushmore">Chicago White Sox</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/who-chicago-cubs-mt-rushmore">Chicago Cubs</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/cleveland-indians-mt-rushmore">Cleveland Indians</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/cincinnati-reds-mt-rushmore">Cincinnati Reds</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/detroit-tigers-mt-rushmore">Detroit Tigers</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/colorado-rockies-mt-rushmore">Colorado Rockies</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://athlonsports.com/mlb/houston-astros-mt-rushmore" target="_blank">Houston Astros</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/florida-marlins-mt-rushmore">Miami Marlins</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/kansas-city-royals-mt-rushmore">Kansas City Royals</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/dodgers-mt-rushmore">Los Angeles Dodgers</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/los-angeles-angels-mt-rushmore">Los Angeles Angels</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/milwaukee-brewers-mt-rushmore">Milwaukee Brewers</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/twins-franchise-mt-rushmore">Minnesota Twins</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/new-york-mets-mt-rushmore">New York Mets</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.athlonsports.com/mlb/new-york-yankees-mt-rushmore">New York Yankees</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/philadelphia-phillies-mt-rushmore">Philadelphia Phillies</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/oakland-athletics-mt-rushmore">Oakland A&#39;s</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/pittsburgh-pirates-mt-rushmore">Pittsburgh Pirates</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/seattle-mariners-mt-rushmore">Seattle Mariners</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/san-diego-padres-mt-rushmore">San Diego Padres</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/tampa-bays-mt-rushmore">Tampa Bay Rays</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/giants-mt-rushmore">San Francisco Giants</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/texas-rangers-mt-rushmore-0">Texas Rangers</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/st-louis-cardinals-mt-rushmore">St. Louis Cardinals</a></td></tr><tr height="15"><td height="15" style="height:20px;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/toronto-blue-jays-mt-rushmore">Toronto Blue Jays</a></td><td><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="../../mlb/washington-nationals-franchise-mt-rushmore">Washington Nationals</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Follow Charlie Miller on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/AthlonCharlie">@AthlonCharlie</a> or email him Charlie.Miller@AthlonSports.com</em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-68 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Miscellaneous:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/mt-rushmore">Mt. Rushmore</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-64 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">MLB Teams:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-teams/new-york-yankees">New York Yankees</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-65 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">MLB Players:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/derek-jeter">Derek Jeter</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/babe-ruth">Babe Ruth</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/joe-dimaggio">Joe DiMaggio</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/mariano-rivera">Mariano Rivera</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/lou-gehrig">Lou Gehrig</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/iron-horse">Iron Horse</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/sultan-swat">Sultan of Swat</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/bambino">Bambino</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/mlb-players/mickey-mantle">Mickey Mantle</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/mlb-players/yogi-berra">Yogi Berra</a></div></div></div><div class="field-collection-container clearfix"><div class="field field-name-field-must-read-links field-type-field-collection field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Must Read Links:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"><div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-must-read-links clearfix" class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-must-read-links">
<div class="content">
<div class="field field-name-field-exclude-unless-partner field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Exclude Unless Partner:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div> </div>
</div>
</div></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-exclude-from-feeds field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Exclude From Games:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Include In Games</div></div></div>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:41:27 +0000Charlie Miller8964 at http://athlonsports.com